Loose-leaf binder.



Patented June 11, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. MARTIN.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

- APPLICATION FILED sPT.24. 1917.

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A. MARTIN.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION man sEPT. 24, 1917.

Patented June 11, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q Reddicii.

A. MARTIN.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLICATION FILED sEPT.24, 1911.

Y W .NIU lif* Mew/W Patented June 11, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 )f2/'rg' /m''a r'ZfZ/T A.MARHN.

LOOSE -LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24. I9I i.

19369,@79. I PaInIedJune 11, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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LED EJTIN, 0F CHICAG-U,

ILINOS, ASSEGNOR 0F ONE-HALF 'E0 WILLIAM l'.

SNDBERG, 0F CHICAGO), ILLINOIS.

JLGSlE-ILEAF BIND Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jun@ lill, llgll.

-2 Application illed September 242, 1917. Serial No. 192,857.`

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALFRED MARTIN a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate of Illinois, have invented certain new andv useful Improvements in Loose- Leaf Binders, of which the following |is a specification.

Myinvention relates to loose leaf binders and has for its primary object the provision .of means for shifting a plurality of leaves from one osition to another within the binder whi e maintaining the relative positions of said leaves.

In connection with a binder carrying a plurality of relatively short, overlapped leaves and hinged to open, my invention relates more specifically to means for dividing a set of said overlapped leaves into two portions" and shifting one of said portions with relation to the other a distance equal to the height of each leaf that is exposed beyond the next superposed leaf. This shift of the two portions leaves between two adjacent leaves a space sufficiently long for the insertion of an extra leaf between them while allowing for exposing the same amount of margin of all leaves. The object attained in this way is the interposition in its proper place, alphabetically, of an extra ledger account leaf, for example; accomplishing the insertion quickly without disturbin the alphabetic arrangement of the other eaves in the set of leaves; and exposing to view, when the binder is opened, a uniform amount of title margin of each leaf.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this a plication and illustrate the preferred em odiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a loose leaf binder constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention, 'showing the same in open position and indicating in dotted lines an adjusted position of the` parts.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken away. This view shows in dotted lines the closed position of the binder.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View of a set bearing the name of the customer whose ac- Vcount is kept on that leaf, is exposed to view when the binder is opened.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of an extra leaf to be inserted in its alphabetical order among the leaves of Fig. 3.v

' Fig. 5 shows the leaves of Fig. 3 and illustrates two of the positions assumed by one portion of the set while the operation of my improved binder is shifting themwith respect to the remainder of the set to make room for the extra leaf shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows the leaves of Figs. 3 and 4; in their final positions in the binder, in which position they are in alphabetical order.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a portion of the device of Fig. 1v illustrating it in a little less than fully open position.

Fig. 8 illustrates the lower end of one of the indexed leaves used to separate the account leaves of the binder.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of the open binder.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a modified form of the invention and correspond to Figs. l and 2, respectively.

In many oilices records are kept on sheets such as the account leaves 11 to 14 inclusive shown in Figs. 3 and 4, these leaves being segregated into sets by their initials and being relatively short from top to bottom with respect to the binder in which they are kept; they are also overlapped as seen in Figs. 3 and 6 to expose only that uniform portion of their upper margins which bear the customers name. These sets of leaves are ordinarily kept separate by indexed4 leaves inserted between them and extending substantially from top to bottom of the binder.

A front cover 15 and a rear cover 16 (see Figs. "l and 2), each including an an lar portion forming one-half of the back of the binder, are joined to each other by hinges 17, 18 and 19 on a common axis. Each of these hinges comprises a male hinge-leaf 21 having lugs 22 and 23 at its upper and lower ends respectively in which is fixedly mounted a pintle 24, the lugs 22 and 23 being the s aced a considerable distance apart. Each hinge comprises also a female hin e-leaf 25 carrying a single lug 26 which sli ably embraces the pintle 24 and is short relatively to that portion of the pintle exposed between lugs 22 and 23. The leaves of each hinge have an amplitude of relative movementlongitudinally of their pintle equal to the width of title margin exposed at the top of each account leaf in the set shown in Fig. 3. This permits cover 15 to be moved toward the bottom of the binder-relativelyto cover 16-a similar distance, as shown in dotted lines in Fig, 1.

Post frames 27 and 28 comprising elongated steel plates are secured respectively to the front and rear covers -15 and 16 and from these frames project arcuate leaf posts equidistant from and concentric with the pmtles 24. These leaf posts are all identlcal,

ut for the sake of description they are given the following numbers: The lower three on frame 27 are numbered from top to bottom respectively 29, 31 and 32' and the lower three on frame 28 arev numbered 33, 34 and 35. As best seen in Fig. 2, these posts extend across the closed binder from cover to cover their free ends entering recesses formed to receive them, as indicated at 36 and 37 and 38 and 39 in 1.

r1`he thick pieces 41 and 42 whic together form the back of the binder are partially embraced near the bottom of the binder by flanges 43 and 44 formed respectively on hinge leaves 21 and `25 of hinge 19. Flange 43 carries an apertured arm 45 which, in the closed position of the binder, overlaps the iange 44. The piece 42 is partly cut away as at 46 beneath flange 44 to accommodate a flat spring 47 carrying a stud 48 which projects beyond Hange 44 into-the path of arm 45 and, in the closed position of the binder, engages the aperture in that arm. In this way the covers 15 and 16 are held against separation by rotation relatively about the pintles 24, and are also held against relative movement longitudinally of their common hinge axis. By pressing the free end of spring 47 into recess 46 the stud 48 is Withdrawn from arm 45 and the operator may open the binder and shift its covers. l

In the operation of the binder the leaves 11, 13 and 14 are placed on the upper posts on frame 28 with the upper, name-bearing margin of each exposed by lowering each successively superposed leaf a given distance from the one below it. The leaves are each provided with vsix post apertures andthe posts are separated from each other on the frame a distance equal to three times the given marginal width at the tops of the leaves. Bythis arrangement each leaf will be held in place by at least two posts and cannot swing about in the binder. rllhe mesme posts are oset in oneframe from those in the other so that they cannot strike each other. The leaves 11, 13 and 14 being overlapped as shown in Fig. 3, the bookkeeper finds it necessary to place under the customers accounts in the R set of leaves the leaf 12 of a new customer and to place that new leaf in alphabetical order in the set. The new leaf belongs between leaves 11 and 13. 1n binders now in use something more than twenty leaves are used ina single set between the top and bottom of the binder. Considerable time is lost and confusion now results from the attempt of the bookkeeper to shift down one margin space all of the leaves below 11, for instance, in order to allow the upper margin of 12 to show above that of 13 after 12 has been inserted. 1n

' the use of my invention the set shown as an example in Fig. 3 is split bly the hand between leaves 11 and 13, al of the leaves from 11 up remaining on the rear cover posts and, the binder being opened, the

leaves from 13 down being carrled over to the left on the front cover posts.l The front cover is now moved, or sh1fted,'toward the bottom of the binder, thereby lowering all those leaves of the set which it carries one marginal space with relation to leaf 11 remaining on the rear cover. This relative position of the leaves is illustrated in Fig. 5, the position which leaf 13 occupied when the binder was first opened being shown in dotted lines. The bookkeeper now places new leaf 12 in the place originally occupied by 13 and closes the binder with the front cover odset one marginal space with respect to the rear cover. This closing re-unites the set as seen in Fig. 6, the leaves bein all in proper spaced relation and in alpha etical order. But this closing also leaves the front cover and all sets of leaves above the R set lowered one marginal space from the remainder of the binden Hence the operator re-opens the binder keeping the whole R set on the rear cover posts and putting all leaves above it on the front posts; following this he slides the front cover upward on pintles 24 till the covers are in normal alinement, when he again closes the binder. 1n this position of the covers the free ends of posts 32 and 35 engage respectively the recesses 38 and 37, while in the o'set position of the covers these posts occupy respectively the recesses 39 and 36.

As will be readily seen from Fig. 6 the" overlapped relation of the' leaves makes the upper and lower ends of the set very thin,

menare size of the covers and havin thickened ends, as shown in Fig. 9. The t ickness may. be added to an ordinary sheet 49 by successively applied laminze 51, 52, 53 and 54.

At its outer edge each separating sheet han.

riesthe ordinaryform of alphabet index, such as that marked V in Fig. 8.

When one alphabetical division or set of leaves grows so large ythat its leaves if kept together would be longer than the covers of thebinder, a supplementary set may be started and kept separate from the first set, though next to it, by aV separating leaf 55 provided with an index tab 56 noticeably diHerent from that of leaf 49; for instance, round instead of square asis indicated in Fig. 10. The round and square index tabs may be placed the one higher than the other in the binder so that both tabs show when the book is opened to a given letter or set.

In the modification shown in Figs. 11 and I 12 the covers 15 and 16 are joined by the -able longitudinally of their pivotal axis.

.. vents rubbing ordinary type of hinges and hence not shift- Instead, the front cover post frame 57 is'slidably mounted on the front cover 15 and carries, hinged to it, a stifi" sub-cover 58 which, moving with the shifted account leaves, prethem on the front cover 15. The frame 5 is reduced at places .to form shoulders 59, the reduced portions sliding in keepers 61 which permit movementof the frame in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis of the covers. At its lower end the frame V57 may be provided with a nger piece 62 for convenience in shifting it. The operation of this modified form of binder is substantially the same as that previously described.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that one skilled in the art may make modifications thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention. I wish, therefore, not to be restricted to the precise embodiment shown except in so far as the same is limited in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a binder the combination with front and rear sets of alined leaf posts, of means holding said sets in pivotal relation to each other, said sets bein mounted on said means for movement longitudinally of each other` 2. In a binder the combination of parallel, elongated post frames, leaf posts mounted on the frames, and means holding said frames in pivotal relation while permitting their relative longitudinal movement.

3. In a binder the combination with hinged covers, of a set of leaf posts mounted on each cover, said sets being movable longitudinallybf each other.

In a binder the combination of hinged front and rear covers, andaset of leaf posts ria ,frame ,equidistant from said axis and concentric therewith.

6. In a binder the combination of front and rear covers hinged together, a post frame on each cover, saidl yframes being relatively movable long'itudinall of the axis of the hinge; and arcuate lea posts on each frame equidistant from said axis and con- -centric therewith, the posts on one frame being offset with respect to those on the other.

7. In a binder the combination of front and rear covers hinged together, a post frame on each cover, said frames being relatively movable longitudinally of the axis of the hinge; and arcuate leaf posts on each centric therewith, the posts on one frame being offset with respect to those on the other and each post extending substantially from cover to cover in the closed position of the binder.

8. In a binder the combination of fr ont and rear covers hinged together, an apertured post frame on each cover, and alined leaf posts on each frame equidistant from the axis of the hinge, the free ends of the posts of one frame entering apertures of the other frame in the closed position of the binder, yand said frames being relatively movable longitudinally of the axis of the hinge in the open position of the binder.

9. In a binder the combination with. front and rear post frames, and a pair. of elements hinged together on a common axis, each element carrying one of said frames, of arcuate leaf posts on each frame equidista'nt from said axis and concentric therewith, said frames being relatively movable a given distance longitudinally of said axis.

10. In a binder the combination with front and rear post frames, and a pair of ,of arcuate leaf posts on each frame equidistant from said axis and concentric therewith, said frames being relatively movable a given distance longitudinally of said axis,

frame equidistant from said axis and cong4; aecomo and the posts on each frame beingspac'ed apart three times said given distance and offset to .prevent their standing opposite each other in any position of the frames.

12. In a binder the combination with two elements forming a cover, and leaf holding means on each element, of hinges for connecting said elements, each hinge comprising a leaf having two lugs remote from each other, and a pintle rigidly gripped by said lugs; and a leaf having a single lug slidably embracing said pintle between said two lugs and of less len h axially of the intle than the distance etween said two ugs.

13. In ya binder the. combination with hinged covers, of a set of leaf posts mounted on each cover, 'said covers be' relatively l movable lon 'tudinallr of their ged axis and a lock orholding the covers in close 20 position and-preventing said relative movement,` y v In Yony'whereof I aiix my signature ALFRED MARTIN. 

